Italian, Indian and Chinese cooks find common ground on the issue of what to do with a cauliflower. They will differ over the particulars, but all agree that taking the vegetable apart and mixing it in a pan with other flavours is a good idea.

The particular version of the good idea described here is distinctive, assertive, and good-tasting. This brief and busy little recipe is full of activity: toasting, grinding, chopping, mixing…and devoid of complexity. If it were a song, it would be a ‘ditty’, for it is whimsical (of no one particular style or cuisine); it is simple; and it makes for a diverting good time…in the kitchen.

Note: To print this recipe, or any other diplomatickitchen recipe, go to the bottom of the page, at the end of the post, and click on the icon: Print & PDF.

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower, divided into fleurettes, and the larger ones cut in half

1 Tablespoon of coriander seeds

1 teaspoon of cumin seeds

3 Tablespoons of fresh ginger, minced

1 – 2 whole dried chile de árbol peppers, or another small, whole dried red chile: depending upon how much heat you like

1 fresh Thai green chile, or half of a green serrano chile, minced

1 cup of frozen green peas, thawed, but not cooked

1/2 teaspoon of garam masala: the photographed recipe is made from a packaged garam masala spice blend.

3 Tablespoons of sunflower oil, or vegetable oil of your choice

1/4 cup of water

1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, more–or less

an optional garnish is a small whole dried chile de árbol pepper, with its stem still attached, for each serving

Equipment:

a small pan in which to toast the seeds

a utensil for grinding the seeds: a mortar and pestle, or an electric spice grinder (or coffee grinder that you use as a spice grinder), or a blender

a wok with a lid

1. Put the cumin and coriander seeds in a dry pan and toast them over medium heat. In a few minutes they will begin to pop and smell fragrant, and will start to darken…

…Remove them from the heat and grind them up together:

2. Heat the oil in the wok. Add the whole dried chile(s), and the ground coriander and cumin seeds. Cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes, then add the minced fresh green chile and fresh ginger and cook for a minute more–still stirring .

3. Add the cauliflower and stir-fry it, coating it with the spices, until it begins to brown–for about 3 – 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of water, cover, and cook until the cauliflower just becomes tender–perhaps another 4 – 5 minutes. Remove the lid, add the peas and increase the heat to high. Add the garam masala and stir-fry the vegetables for a minute or two more, until the water is evaporated and the peas are heated and just cooked.

4. Add the kosher salt (more or less than the suggested amount of 1/2 teaspoon). Garnish each serving with a small, stemmed, whole dried chile de árbol pepper, if you like the idea.

A Note: Stir-fried Cauliflower and Green Peas with Toasted Cumin and Coriander Seed accompanies the Main Course of the Lunch Menu: Lunch from the Grill in the Congo. The citrus-ey flavour of the coriander seed goes well with fish.